Oh, my, what a couple of cuties! Harley was a handsome boy. My heart aches for you--no matter how long they're with us, it's never long enough.

Thanks for your kind words. It's been a difficult road so far. I had Harley euthanized peacefully in my arms at home. I even had the need to placed him, wrapped up in his favorite blankets and basket, into the crematory... I had to be with him right until the very end. Now Harley sits on my office desk in a tasteful urn that looks more like a large paperweight.... I know this sounds sappy coming from a 55 year old man, but he was like a son to me, my best buddy.... I couldn't have loved him more.

Thanks for your kind words. It's been a difficult road so far. I had Harley euthanized peacefully in my arms at home. I even had the need to placed him, wrapped up in his favorite blankets and basket, into the crematory... I had to be with him right until the very end. Now Harley sits on my office desk in a tasteful urn that looks more like a large paperweight.... I know this sounds sappy coming from a 55 year old man, but he was like a son to me, my best buddy.... I couldn't have loved him more.

Chris

It is not sappy at all... they are part of our families. He was a beautiful boy, sorry for your loss.

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Dogs don't need to talk, their life is their message ~ unknown.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Thanks for your kind words. It's been a difficult road so far. I had Harley euthanized peacefully in my arms at home. I even had the need to placed him, wrapped up in his favorite blankets and basket, into the crematory... I had to be with him right until the very end. Now Harley sits on my office desk in a tasteful urn that looks more like a large paperweight.... I know this sounds sappy coming from a 55 year old man, but he was like a son to me, my best buddy.... I couldn't have loved him more.

Chris

I am really sorry to hear about the lost of your beloved Harley. I met a man in his 60's while I was out with my last dog and the man told me he had 2 Standard Poodles and after the last one dies he could not get another dog as he did not want to go through the heartbreak of losing a dog again, it was too much him. I see nothing sappy about grieving a lost of a family member. How is your other dog doing?

I am really sorry to hear about the lost of your beloved Harley. I met a man in his 60's while I was out with my last dog and the man told me he had 2 Standard Poodles and after the last one dies he could not get another dog as he did not want to go through the heartbreak of losing a dog again, it was too much him. I see nothing sappy about grieving a lost of a family member. How is your other dog doing?

Sydney (my female) was very confused the first week. She had the opportunity to process Harley's death via inspection and smelling after his passing. Now, two weeks later, she's okay. I think she's even enjoying all the spotlight... She's an insecure girl. Thanks for asking.

I'm so bent on picking up a new pup, but I feel that Sydney at 10 years of age might not be receptive or more importantly not happy.

Chris you will never forget your beloved Harley. He was a beautiful boy and a cherished family member. We also lost our senior dog last year and have recently introduced two puppies to our 12 year old lab. It's hard to say really how she feels about it. Now as overwhelmingly happy as I had hoped, at least not yet. There are signs of hope, but it has stressed her somewhat. If you really want to get another pup, could you take her somewhere to see how she interacts with some puppies? If you found a breeder that you would like to get a pup from would they let you bring Sydney over for a meet and greet to see if she's receptive or not? It's worth a try.

Chris you will never forget your beloved Harley. He was a beautiful boy and a cherished family member. We also lost our senior dog last year and have recently introduced two puppies to our 12 year old lab. It's hard to say really how she feels about it. Now as overwhelmingly happy as I had hoped, at least not yet. There are signs of hope, but it has stressed her somewhat. If you really want to get another pup, could you take her somewhere to see how she interacts with some puppies? If you found a breeder that you would like to get a pup from would they let you bring Sydney over for a meet and greet to see if she's receptive or not? It's worth a try.

A for Harley and a for you. You are among friends who understand.

Thanks Dee Dee for your words of encouragement. I'm still on the fence about adding a new dog and I've been doing a lot of thinking. If I replace Harley, I think I'll do it with a mature male... a dog that doesn't require as much fussing as a puppy would. Anyway you slice it, Sydney will probably be jealous for some time. She's a real princess, and very possessive of me. This is why it's such a difficult decision... I don't want to hurt Syd's feelings, but my love of animals is bigger than me...................

Thanks Dee Dee for your words of encouragement. I'm still on the fence about adding a new dog and I've been doing a lot of thinking. If I replace Harley, I think I'll do it with a mature male... a dog that doesn't require as much fussing as a puppy would. Anyway you slice it, Sydney will probably be jealous for some time. She's a real princess, and very possessive of me. This is why it's such a difficult decision... I don't want to hurt Syd's feelings, but my love of animals is bigger than me...................

Would you think of being a foster parent to a mature dog and this way you could see how Sydney get along with him. I think it a great idea getting a mature dog as they're the first ones to be put down in shelters. My beloved Standard Poodle, Finlay been gone over two years I still miss him like hell.
And he was my hearing dog and people still ask me where he is as he went everywhere with me. I felt incomplete for a long time not having a big black poodle at my left side of me.

I don't know you Chris,or Harley,but I know of the heartbreak of losing someone you love,you are not sappy.
I have my Rocky in a Cedar-box in my bed-room,he died in 2010 but I still kiss him goodnight and tell hom I love him every night.
So very sorry for your loss